Flannel vulnerable to cross-node remote code execution via extension backend BackendData injection (flannel-io flannel)
At a glance
- Source
- NVD
- EPSS
- EPSS 2.76 % · percentile 86 ()
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Published
- Updated
- Assigner
- GitHub_M
- NVD status
- Analyzed
Description
Flannel is a network fabric for containers, designed for Kubernetes. The Flannel project includes an experimental Extension backend that allows users to easily prototype new backend types. In versions of Flannel prior to 0.28.2, this Extension backend is vulnerable to a command injection that allows an attacker who can set Kubernetes Node annotations to achieve root-level arbitrary command execution on every flannel node in the cluster. The Extension backend's SubnetAddCommand and SubnetRemoveCommand receive attacker-controlled data via stdin (from the `flannel.alpha.coreos.com/backend-data` Node annotation). The content of this annotation is unmarshalled and piped directly to a shell command without checks. Kubernetes clusters using Flannel with the Extension backend are affected by this vulnerability. Other backends such as vxlan and wireguard are unaffected. The vulnerability is fixed in version v0.28.2. As a workaround, use Flannel with another backend such as vxlan or wireguard.
Weaknesses (CWE)
- CWE-77 — Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command
References
Scores
| Version | Score | Vector | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH 7.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | GitHub_M |
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH 7.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | NVD · security-advisories@github.com (Secondary) |
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH 8.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | NVD · nvd@nist.gov (Primary) |
Advisories
- GHSA-vchx-5pr6-ffx2 — Flannel has cross-node remote code execution via extension backend BackendData injection
- GO-2026-4894 — Flannel has cross-node remote code execution via extension backend BackendData injection in github.com/flannel-io/flannel
European references
- ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-16771
- GCVE · GCVE-0-2026-32241
CERT-FR advisories
- CERTFR-2026-AVI-0386 — Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Microsoft · cert.ssi.gouv.fr
Affected configurations (NVD CPE)
cpe:2.3:a:flannel-io:flannel:*:*:*:*:*:kubernetes:*:*< 0.28.2
Affected products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| flannel-io · flannel | affected < 0.28.2 |
Sources
| Source | Licence |
|---|---|
| CVE List (CVEProject cvelistV5) | CVE Program Terms of Use |
| EPSS (FIRST.org) | FIRST — attribution requested |
| ENISA EUVD | ENISA — reproduction authorised, source acknowledged |
| CERT-FR (ANSSI) | Licence Ouverte / Etalab 2.0 |
| NVD (NIST) via fkie-cad/nvd-json-data-feeds | Public domain — this product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD |